How A CEO Built Puma, Left It, And Raised 600 Cr Seed To Build Puma’s Biggest Threat From India

How A CEO Built Puma, Left It, And Raised 600 Cr Seed To Build Puma’s Biggest Threat From India

Author: The BarberShop with Shantanu January 17, 2025 Duration: 2:08:51

In our first ever episode in front of a live audience, Shantanu and Abhishek - both IIM Lucknow alumni - visited their beloved campus to shoot this special Barbershop conversation in front of a curious and welcoming student audience.

Abhishek is a storied CEO, joining Puma on day 1 in India in 2004 and then leading it to be bigger than Nike and Adidas combined! He then left to found Agilitas - a wildly courageous move with a 600 Cr seed round to acquire India’s largest shoe making factory.

This episode explores his experience as an operator and new entrepreneur, the risk of leaving a cushy CEO job, the market, how to attract talent, Virat, brand building, his bullishness on India and of course how being a back bencher at IIML did not derail his career.

We hope you love this conversation.

Navigate your way through this conversation:

00:00 Coming Up

01:41 Introduction: Reflections on IIM Lucknow

02:46 Building a Career from Humble Beginnings

06:53 The Journey of Puma: From Startup to Market Leader

23:24 The Birth of Agilitas

29:56 Building Brands for the Future

41:55 How to pitch to Investors

46:06 The Evolution of Sportswear

52:25 Team Dynamics and Company Culture

01:04:18 Futuristic Products that Agilitas is building

01:09:11 Marketing Challenges then v/s now

01:11:49 BSC: Quick Commerce v/s Retail Market

01:14:02 Business Model of Agilitas

01:15:35 Authenticity in Brand Communication

01:19:35 Creating a Thriving Company Culture

01:24:53 Opportunities in Sports Infrastructure

01:27:38 Sustainability in Business Practices

01:35:18 Challenges for Indigenous Brands in India

01:45:35 Navigating Stress and Entrepreneurship

01:49:24 Learning from Role Models

01:54:45 Manufacturing in India vs. Global Competition

01:59:24 Consulting as a Career Path

02:03:10 Competing with Established Brands


Step into a space where business talk feels less like a lecture and more like a conversation happening in the back of a classic barbershop. The BarberShop with Shantanu is built on that exact feeling-a place for honest, meandering, and deeply insightful dialogues about the real journey of building something. Host Shantanu, who founded Bombay Shaving Company and Bombae, doesn't just interview guests; he engages in a form of mutual mentorship, drawing on his own experiences to unpack the stories, struggles, and small victories that define entrepreneurship. Each episode feels like a candid exchange, stripping away the polished veneer often found in business media to explore how ideas actually take root and flourish. You'll hear from a variety of voices navigating their own hustles, with conversations that naturally touch on strategy, personal growth, and the often-overlooked human elements behind the brands. This podcast thrives on the free flow of genuine perspective, offering listeners not just lessons, but a sense of camaraderie. It’s a platform dedicated to growth, framed through storytelling that’s as much about the missteps as the milestones. Tune in for a regular dose of reflection and practical wisdom, all shared with the ease of a good chat.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The BarberShop with Shantanu
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